Root canal cleaning and shaping are of paramount importance during root canal therapy. Because of the intricate nature of root canal anatomy, it is impossible to shape and clean the root canal completely through mechanical preparation. Irrigation is an essential part of root canal debridement. The conventional method is syringe needle irrigation or in combination with ultrasonic irrigation systems. Endo-brushes, Rinsendo, EndoVac and EndoActivator systems are still in the research stage, not widely applicated in clinical yet. This paper reviews the research progress on root canal irrigation methodologies.
